Friday, September 13, 2019

North American Eagle 1,000mph Land Speed Record
racecar. Photo by North American Eagle Project. (Image source: hemmings.com)

As another racer perishes in their pursuit of
Ultimate Speed and glory. Whilst some say Bad things come in Three's...

Yeah, know we're All still supposed to be
enraptured over that Scintillating? Portland IndyCar race held Labour Day
weekend, which is why I partially decided to hold this story back. And then
that same weekend in Belgium, at Spa Francorchamps, Anthoine Hubert Died in a
Formula 2 Crash.

Alas, I found it somewhat ironic to learn just
a week prior to Indy Cars arrival in thee Rose City, the News that Jessi Combs
had Died in the Alvord
Desert in Southeast Oregon, August 27th. Which
presumably Y'all have heard about by now, Righto?

Having first come across the News when
listening to Car and Driver magazine via my NFB Newsline for The Blind
telephone service, I had Zero Clue over who Jessi Combs was? Not to mention
that she was known as The Fastest Woman on Four Wheels!

Yet when I heard the words North American
eagle, (NAE) Claxon Bells started sounding loudly, as I know that name! As it
was none other than No Fenders Tacoma Bureau Chief Mary Ellen who introduced me
to this unique Land Speed record project when she saw said vehicle on the I-5
Highway north of Seattle nearly a Decade ago, Wayback in 2010. For which I
noted this briefly, albeit in Part 2 of another of my never ending No Fenders
tomes.

Although somehow I missed thoust Memo? Since
I'd ARSE-Sume that originally this ex-F-104 Lockeed Starfighter Fighter plane
was configured in the traditional three-wheels Jet Rocket-car layout. Since it
was originally envisioned to re-capture the Land Speed Record (LSR) currently
held by Andy Green aboard the ThrustSSC, by going an astounding 800mph!

Alas, I got busy 'N quit following the
project and therefore had NO clue that Jessi Combs at the controls of the Eagle
Rocket-car, which was now sporting four wheels had Broken the Women's Land
Speed Record Wayback in 2013 on the exact same Alvord Desert.

As Combs shattered the existing record then
held by lee Breedlove since February 11, 1965, wife of some LSR Jockey named
Craig. Having set the record aboard the Spirit of America Sonic 1 at Bonneville
at 308.5mph. Before Combs went 90 miles per hour faster, when going398.95mph on October 9, 2013!

Although I cannot find any definitive
technical details upon the NAE Supersonic Speed Challenger, other than it
measures some 56-feet long, weighs in at over 7 Tons! And is propelled by a
General electric J-79 jet engine with Afterburner producing up to 52,000
Horsepower.

Combs, along with NAE Founder Ed Shadle next set
their sights upon besting two current Land Speed Records, the Women's Overall
and the Single engine records in September, 2016.

As Shadle, who ultimately drove to a speed of
515mph in the Eagle, aborted his record attempt after experiencing steering
issues during testing.

Meanwhile, ironically combs wasattempting breaking Kitty O'Neal's current
Land Speed Record made on the very same Dry Lake-bed in Oregon Wayback in December,
1976! Which I only learned of last year when Kitti "Flamed Out."

Yet Jessi's attempt was ultimately Derailed
when she made a One-way pass at 477mph before going Off-course into some stray
Cacti, promptly ending that year's record attempt!

Next, in 2018, Combs and Crew were back at it
once again at their familiar testing grounds in Oregon - while making another
record run at 483.227mph. A parts failure allowed a Door Hatch to open,
allowing Debris to enter the Eagle's engine, curtailing any further record
attempts towards Besting O'Neil's elusive record.

Sadly, Combs Death comes on the Heels of NAE
leader Shadle's Death in September, 2018. And these two major events, including
the wrecked vehicle and the Team's always Scant Finances would seem to put a Damper upon the
continuation of the project, which is just pure Speculation upon my part.

Although History would suggest that
eventually some Female, or Females? Will ultimately Break the current Women's
Land Speed Record's, since there seems to be a distinction between the Overall
Speed record and Four wheels Speed record? The latter Combs Broke after it had
stood for nearly a Half Century...

Wednesday, September 11, 2019

As why does Nobody ever mention the Uruguayan's
Name when talking about Fallen Open Wheel Racing Drivers?

Sadly, it seems almost Universal, when
anybody writes about Fallen Open Wheel Racing Drivers, the name Gonzalo Rodriguez
is never mentioned. Which I find somewhat Odd since after all he drove very
briefly for El Capitano', nee Roger Penske.

And I Don't think I've heard his name since a
few years ago, when fellow Countryman Santi', nee Santiago Urrutia won
what then was the Pro Mazda Championship in 2015, Karmically at the very same
Racetrack over the weekend of Rodriguez's passing.

As today marks the Twentieth Anniversary of Gonzalo
Rodriguez's Death during Saturday practice for the Championship Auto Racing
Teams (CART_ race at Laguna Seca Raceway, where the 27yr Old Uruguayan Died Instantly
from his Injuries.

As I find the Video above to be very poignant in
light of Anthoine Hubert's recent Death in Formula 2. Along with F2 racer Juan Manuel
Correa being Critically Injured in the ensuing Accident, especially since it
eerily denotes why Racers do what they do...

Tomaso with Buddy Lazier, one of the Coolest,
Friendliest and Amiable Persons I've Met! Hangin' Out in the IMS Flagroom,
circa 2012, before the Speedway Closed it to the public. (The Tomaso
Collection)

Or is it as Unlucky as Racing Cars running thou
Shade 'O Green? As how'd that Double Negative turn outs for Yuhs Danica?

Today marks the 13th Anniversary of this
"Award Winning" Blogsite No Fenders Born-on Date, or as thou late
Esteemed Awntie' Harriet Christened it, Thy No Fenders BLOB! Which began
Wayback with the Debutante No Fenders post revolvin' around Christian Klien,
remember him?

Just wish the Freakin' light would make up its
Bloody Mind on whether or not to be Bright, Dark, Hazy, in-between, Drizzlin', Hailing,
ah-thunderin' or whatever else Mother Nature can throw at Mwah here upon thou
Isle 'O Nofendersville; CRIKEYS!

As it's been another Wacky Year since moving South
to Thy new bungalow-by-The-Sea, where thoust Winds are always Ah-Blowin'
Mateys!

And Sorry Zach', but You'll always be Zachary
Claman DeMelo to Mwah. Although I can sorta guess
why you shortened your name this year. Especially since Gory Speelchequor'
always wants to change it to Demerol; YIKES!

Who's apparently Ski-Dattled' back to Montreal, or
as 'Ol Awntie' Harriet would correct me, Mont royal! Apparently to continue selling
shoes under his ZCD Brand? Since he left this year's Indy Lights campaign after
the Indy GP weekend.

Alas, A la last
year's riveting No Fenders B-Day shout Out! I simply cannot end the string on
thou Number 13, and instead will attempt Humourin' Y'all for at least another Season,
in honour of TK' Follow-your-Schnoz! Kanaan and 'Ol SuperTex', since Bloody Hell!
My No Fenders Blog Traffic's sufferin' a similar fate in conjunction with A.J.
Foyt Enterprise's Dismal 2019 IndyCar campaign...

A few assorted ticket stubs from various Portland
International Raceway IndyCar races I've attended previously. (The Tomaso
Collection)

And it Hit Me like A Two Ton Heavy Thing!
Wherevers' Yuhs Are Geoffrey Tate; Hya! As I'll always be a Warshintonion' at
Heart, Me Thinks, even after getting Priced Out of My Home State! Since I
haven't Done any Headbangin', except upon Thy Keyboard in a long, long time!

Although suppose I sorta Sealed the Dealio
last Fall when electing to forego attending IndyCar's return to Portland, Eh?

Whilst realizing when watching; Err listening
to this year's Grand Prix of Portland; Hmm, still No Title Sponsor? That this
year represents the first time since attending my inaugural IndyCar race at
Portland Wayback in 1987; YOWSA! That it's the first time in 32yrs I haven't
attended a single Car race!

Not to mention, albeit it doesn't happen
nearly enough, especially now that I live just a quick Hop from thou Gory
Pacific Ocean. That I'd rather be walking on the Beach than Stumblin' round a
racetrack; But I Digress...

Pixie-the-Wonderdog; WUF-WUF! And Tomaso posing in
front of Trenches at Washington's Fort Casey State Park, circa 2016. (The
Tomaso Collection)

Ye Blogging Tribulations...

Even though loading my Gynormous No Fenders
Posts become more 'N more labour intensive when I canS-E-E what I'm Uploading on the Bloody
Confuzer' Screen these Dazes! Especially with the lighting, or is It Thy
Eyeballs? Uhm, Horrendous Glare, Darkness, constantly Shifting light due to the
continuously moving trees Shading thou Windows; URGH!

I do still enjoy poondin' out my riveting No
Fenders tales for Y'all on a weekly basis. Just not the constant Struggle to
S-E-E what I'm typing. Since I Don't think I've mentioned I'm Blind lately,
Righto Mary Ellen?

Led First 'N Foremost by Mary Ellen, followed
by Kuhnaidiun' lass Claire and Blogmeister' Miguel! Along with contributions
from Offical' Photographer CARPETS', Snowbyrd MJ', Randal, Thy Moniker King'
and the Florencians Jeannie & Stevoe'. With continued assistance from Clyde
& Nelie plus the still Mega' Killer official No Fenders logo provided by
Artiste Dave!